Mr. President,
It is deeply ironic to hear the Democratic Republic of the Congo accuse Rwanda of undermining a culture of peace in the Great Lakes region.

Rwanda has spent the past 32 years rebuilding a nation completely rendered to ashes by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Rwanda unfortunately understands more profoundly the catastrophic consequences of hatred, division and war. That is precisely why Rwanda has placed unity, reconciliation and a culture of peace at the center of its national reconstruction.
The same cannot be said about the continued tolerance, and cooperation with the FDLR, a terrorist organization whose leadership includes the responsible minds that planned and executed the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Instead of fulfilling its responsibility to neutralize the FDLR, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has repeatedly armed, coordinated with, and integrated elements of this group within the FARDC and allied militias. This reality has been documented many times by the Human Rights Commissioner's office and the Security Council.

Ambassador Empole emphasized the importance of ensuring that women and children can live in peace and dignity. Yet the rhetoric coming from certain officials of the Democratic Republic of the Congo does not reflect these commitments.

On 27 December 2025, the spokesperson of the Congolese armed forces, Sylvain Ekenge, made deeply disturbing public remarks targeting Tutsi women, repeating narratives that portray them as instruments of infiltration and demographic conspiracy.

In a region where genocidal ideology turned into mass killings, such language is dangerous.

Rwanda is taking concrete steps to advance stability in the great lakes region by remaining fully engaged in the African Union-led mediation efforts and the Washington peace accords.

A genuine culture of peace requires responsibility, accountability, and the rejection of armed groups that perpetuate hatred and violence.

I thank you